Sign



Deco 1935. NACHUMSOHN 2023,282

SIGN

Filed June 29, 1929 Patented Dec. 3, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SIGN Irving Nachumsohn, Chicago, Ill. assignor to Naxon Corpraflon, Chicago, Ill., a. corporation of Illinols Application June 29, 1929, Serial N0. 374,631

10 Claims.

This invention relates broadly to improvements in the construction and method of operation of luminous advertising or display signs, and in the present instance more specifically to the aforementioned features of signs comprised, wholly or in part, of gaseous conduction la.mps.

While for the sake of clarity, my illustration and description are exemplary 015 the application of my invention to a luminescent tube sign, it will be readily manifest that the invention can be advantageously used in connection with many other types of luminous devices, and therefore has a. wide field of uti1ity.

It will be further understood that variations in the design, construction and application of my invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not mean to limit myself in this respect, except as I may do so in my claims.

In an advertising sign displaying a permanent message in connection with a decorative design in the form of a border or the like, it is usually preferable to confine any effect of motion or fiashing to the decorative portion, and to keep the message portion conStantly illuminated, in order that the eye of the observer may be attracted by said border, but not interrupted during the perusal of the message. I have, therefore, shown and will deseribe an embodiment 0f my invention in which the message of the sign takes the form of a permanent word, illuminated by 1amps or painted on a background of contrasting color, whi1e the aforementioned moving or wave effect is confined to the decorative embellishments of the sign. Seid moving effect represants, in the present instance, the fiickering, or scintillous, effect in addition to the building-up or spreading of a flamme; but since the dominating optical efiect is essentially a wave motion it is obvious that this invention can be modified, by rearranging the luminescent tubes for example, to represent analogous wave motion of water, smoke, etc.

The primary objects of my invention are the provision of an arrangement of illuminatable elements and means for controlling the illumination of same in such a way that a predetermined moving effect is produced; the provision of an arrangement of the lamps, such as gaseous conduction tubes, comprising the sign which will cause the moving efiect to take the form of radiating or travelling waves of light; and the provision of a secondary means of controlling the illumination of said lamps to produce a building-up or spreading of the illuminated area of the sign.

In my copending applications for U. S. Letters Patent Serial Nos. 289,586 and 375,196 which matured into Patents Number 1,913504 and Number 1,913505 respectively, granted June 13, 1933, I have shown arrangements whereby light efiects may be produced which appear to travel lengthwise of the gaseous conduction tubes employed as the illuminating elements. Such disclosures however, refer to comparatively simple variable light efiects whi1e one object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement whereby a plurality of difierent light effects may be economically coordinated in a large commercial sign.

Furthermore, while my co-pending application for Letters Patent Serial N0. 342,144 which matured into Patent Number 1984939, granted December 18, 1934, discloses a method cf producing interrupted and fading light effects among gaseous lamps without the use of electrical switches, variable resistors or circuit-interrupting devices, 2 where it is desirable or not objectionable to employ such devices the present invention discloses an arrangement for doing this in a large outdoor sign without necessarily complicating such switching apparatus.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will be disclosed in the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a more or 1ess diagrammatic view of a sign embodying the improved features of my invention, and

Fig.- 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit and controlling System of same.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that the sign 6 coniprises the word Naxon the letters of which are designated by the numeral 3; a decorative border, the vertical portion of which I have indicated by the numeral 4; and the upper horizontal portion by 5. The vertical border 4 is in tum eomposed 40 of six sections or banks of illuminatable tubes H, I2, I3, I4, I5 and IG. The top borden 5 is composed of six banks of lamps 2I, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26. Each cf these two groups Consists cf three tubes as indicated at IG, IG, and 16 of group l6 and at 26 26 and 26 of group 28. It will also be observed that the upper or horizontal border 5 has'its tubes arranged in the form of a flame, each of the six sections taking the irregu- 1ar shape of a separate tongue of fiame, and that the tubes comprising the vertical border 4 are also bent in irregular shapes, but are at the same time confined to form a comparatively narrow band along the side of the sign.

All of the tubes in Fig. 1 have be.en indicated diagrammatically by Single heavy lines, to improve the cla.rity 01 the drawing. In Fig. 2 these tubes have been shown in conventional schematic form and ca.n be seen to have darkened or opaque portions I distrlbuted throughout thelr length either at regular or irregular intervals, the spacing and arrangement of the covered portions I depending upon the form that it is desired to have the effect of motion take. When the opaque sections I are regularly spaced and staggered as shown in the groups of tubes II, I2, I3, I4, I5 and I6 comprising the side border 4, the effect produced by the consecutive Illumination, one aI; a time, of the three tubes of one section, is that of a series of alternate light and dark bands all moving together along the tubes, their direction being determined by the sequence in which the three tubes are illuminated. When the darkened portions I are irregularly spaced and not uniformly staggered in their arrangement, as in the lamps comprising the horizontal border 5, and the tubes are alternately lighted, the efiect produced is a flamelike flickering of the light, the exact character of which depends upon the spacing and arrangement of the opaque portions and the order in which the tubes are lighted.

In Fig. 2 the conductors 8 and 9 are connected I:o the power supply circuit which may be any suitable source of cycle alternating current. The conductor 8 connects one side 0f the line with the commutators 3I, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 through the commutator shaft I0, which may be driven in any suitable manner, in the direction indicated by the arrow. The conductor 9 counects the other side of the line to the primaries of the coupling transformers 4I, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46. The transformer primary circuits are intermittently completed through the brushes I1 which malte contact with the commutators 3I, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The high-potential secondaries of the transformers 4I, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 a.re connected on one side through the common conductor I8 and one end of each of the gaseous conductlon lamps comprising the border 5, and 011 their other sides to separately insulated sections of the distributor shaft I9; the secondary of transformer 4I connecting with section 5I, the secondary of 42 with section 52, the secondary of 43 with section 53, the secondary 44 wlth the section 54, the secondary 45 with the section 55 and the secondary 46 with the section 56 of the shaft I9. Contact arms, er brushes, 5I, 52, 53, 54 55 and 56, attached to sections 5I, 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56 respectively move over and make successive contact with the three segments on each of the distributor supports 5I", 52", 53 54 55 and 56", which segments are in turn connected with one end of the tubes of the vertical border 4. The

tubes of the border 4 are connected in series with the tubes of the border 5 in such manner that; when group H is lightecl group 2I also lights; when group I2 is lighted 22 llghts with lt; and so on throughout the entirety of borders 4 and 5.

As is pla.inly manifest from Fig. 2, the respec- I:lve brush arms 5I", 52 53", 54 55 and 56 are euch made wide enough to span two of the contact segments in order that rotatio'n thereof will cause the closing of one of the three tube circuits before breaking the circuits including the tubes previously illuminated. In this respect and. for the same purpose, lt may be notecl that seid brush arms and contact segments are constructed ldentically to the brush II and. segments 3', 4'

and 5' shown in Fig. 2 of the appllcation Serial N0. 375,196 above referred to.

The operation is as follows: when shaft I0 Is rotated lt rotates shaft I 9 through the medium 01 the hell: 20 and the pulleys 21 and 28. The com- 5 mutators 3I, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36 are provided with lnsulated segments 29, the angular length of which is such that transformers 4I, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46 are successively connected and malntained in connection with the power source, thereby suc- 10 cessively lighting the banks of tubes II and 2I,

I2 and 22, I3 and 23, I4 and 24, I5 and 25, and last I6 and 26. This cau:es the border 4 to gradually extencl itself down the side of the sign and the upper border 5 to build up and increase in 10 area across the top of the sign from left; to right. The commutators on the shaft I0 maintain both of the borders 4 and 5 in the lighted ccndition for a time and then extinguish all of the lamps in both borders simultaneously, whereupon the 20 building up process Is again begun. While the foregoing cycle is in progress, the distributor segments on 5I", 52, 53", 54", 55 and 56 cause the three tubes in each 0f the banks to be lighted consecutively, one at a time, and thereby pro- 25 duce the effect; of a moving 01 flickering light, as the case may be, in all of the banks that the commutators on shaft I0 have caused to be illuminated. By virtue of the great diflerence in diameter between the pulleys 21 and 28 the shaft I9 makes several revolutions while the shaft I0 rotates once, with the obvious result that the effect of fiicker or motion appears to be independent of the building up effect. II: will be found. that best results a.re obtained by operat- 35 ing the shaft I9 from 1% to 4, or a1; most 5, revolutions per second.

It is apparent thac there are two different yet efiectively combined moving l'ight; efi'ects displayed. One, the buildlng-up o-r spreading effect 40 caused by the cumulative or aggregated illumination cf the groups of tubes and the secondary efiect caused by the three t'ubes of each group being sucbessively illuminated. Moreover, the first named effect is produced by swltching means 45 connectecl in the primary or 10W voltage clrcuits of the tube transformers while the second named efiect is obtained by means connected in the secondary or high voltage circuits of the transformers. II; will also be noted that notwithstand- 50 ing the large number of tubes employed and the comblnation of a plurality of difierent moving h'ght eflects, the arrangement is such as to require only six transformets for supplying the necessary high voltage iomzing current to all 015 55 the tubes. This arrangement is highly desirable and therefore cf great importance, inasmuch as the tube transformers are costly and parallel operation of columnar gaseous conduction lamps is difficult because 015 their inherently high resis- 0 tance, as explained in my application Serial N0. 375,196 beretofore referred to. In the errangement shown and described parallel connection of the tubes is unnecessary and wh1'le I have shown the tubes in Fig. 2 relatively short II; will readily 65 occur that they may be cf any desirable length and that each single tube may be substituted by a. plurality of tubes connected in series thereby permitting the use of a much greater number of individua.l tubes without necessitating parallel 70 connection thereof or without increasing the number of transformers.

I claim:

1. In a. display system of the dass described, the combination of a 'plurality o1 groups 01 gas- 7 eous illuminating elements, a. transformer having a prlmary and a secondary winding foreach group for subplying operating current thereto, a controlling device in a circuit including the secondary winding of each transformer for operating said elements of the corresponding group to produce a certain light display, within the group, a controlling device in a circuit including the primary wlnding of each transformer for operating the corresponding group of elem-snts, and means for co-ordinating the operation of said last named controlling devices to produce a llght display among the groups of elements.

2. In a display system o! the dass described, the combination of a plurality cf groups of gaseous illuminating elements, a transformer for each group for supplying operating current thereto, a controlling device in a circuit including the secondary winding of each transformer for operating said elements of the corresp0nding group to produce a certain light dlsplay within the group, a controlling device in a circuit including the primary winding of each transformer for operating the corresponding group of elements and a. common actuating means for sald last mentioned controlling devices arranged to coordinate their operation produce a light display among the groups of elements.

3. In a display system of the class described, a plurality of groups of illuminating members arranged to produce a plurality of variable light efiects, a transformer common to said members of a group for supplying current thereto, means in the seqondary circuit of each of sald transformers for operating sald members to produce certain of said light effects, and means in the primary circuits of said transformers for energizing said transformers cumulatively to produce an over-all light efiect among the groups.

4. In a display system 01 the dass described, a plurality of groups of illuminating members arranged to produce a plurality of variable light effects, a transformer common to said members 01 each group for supplylng current thereto, means in the secondary circuit of said transformer for operatlng said members to produce certain of sald l-ight effects, means in the primary circuits of said transformers for en'ergizlng said t-ransformers cumulatively to produce another 01 said llght eflects, and a common operating membez for both 015 said operating means.

5. In a display system of the class described, the comblnation of a plurality of groups of illuminating elements, a transformer for each group for supplylng current thereto, a controlling device in the secondary circu1t 01 euch transformer for operating sald illuminating elements a.t a given rate, a controlling devlce in the primary circuit of euch transformer for operating said illuminating elements at a dlfierent rate, and means for operating sa.ld first-named contmlling devlces all in unlson at; one rate and for operating said secondnamed controlllng devlces at a difierent rate.

6. In a. sign controlling device of the character described, the comblnation 015 a plurality 01 groups of gaseous dlscharge lamps, a transformer for each group having a secondary wlnding in a circuit in which sald lamps are included, a controlling device for sald circuit, means co-ordlnatlng the operation o! sald controlling devlces for operating sald lamps in predetermlned sequential relation, each 01 said transformers having a. primary winding in a circuit connected to the source of 'power, a. primary controlling device in each transformer primary circuit, and means co-ordinating the operation of said primary con- 5 trolling devices in predetermined sequential relation.

7. In a slgn controlling device of the character described, the combination of a plura.llty 01 groups of gaseous discharge lamps, a transformer 10 for each group having a secondary wlnding in a clrcuit in which said lamps are included, a vontrolling device for said circuit, means co-ordinating the Operation of said controlling devices for operating said lamps In predetermined sequen- 15 tial relation,-each of said transformers having a primary winding in a circuit connected to the source 01 power, a. primary controlling device in each transformer primary circuit, means coordinating t he operation o1 said primary con- 20 trolling devices in predetermined sequential relation and means co-ordinating the operation 01 said first named controlling devices with relatlon to the operatlon of said primary controlling devices.

8. In a. slgn controlling system o1 the dass described, the combination of a plurality of groups of gaseous discharge lamps, a. transformer for each gro up comprising a primary and a secondary' windjng, a controlling .device for each group 30 arranged to connect the lamps of the group with the transfo1mer secondary assoclated with said group in a predetermined sequential relation, means co-ordlnating the operation of the several controlling devices with relation to each other, 35 a, controlling device for the primary winding 013 each transformer, and means co-ordinating the operation of the said secondary controlling devices with the operation of said primary coutrolling deviqes.

9. The comblnation with a. plurality of gaseous conduction lamps and a plurality of step-up transformers for supplying ionizing potential thereto, of a. plurality of potential distributors in the respe.ctive secondary circuits of said trans- 45 formers and operable in unison at a given speed for the production of a given variable light eflfect;

a plurality ot current distributors in the respective primary circuits of sald transformers operable in um's0n a1; a relatively low speed for the 50 production of a, relatively slow variable light efiect, and means for correlating saicl variable light effects and common to said potential and current dlstributors for operatlng the same.

10. The combination with a plurality o1 groups 55 01 illumlnating elements, o! a transformer for each group for supplying current thereto, a. coutrolling device in the secondary circult 01 each transformer comprising a stationary contact segment for each illuminating element within a 00 group and a common rotatable member for successively energizing sald llluminatlng elements of said group through said segments, a controlling device in the prlmary circult 015 each transformer, means for co-ordinatlng the operation o! 55 the respectlve controlling devices associated wlth the prlmary and secondary clrcuits 01 each transformer in a. predetermined relation to operate sald illuminating elements 1:0 produce various display efiects. 70

IRVING NACHUMSOHN. 

